Stroller



1950 v. R. TRABUCCO 2,517,736

STROLLER Filed May 22, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VINCENT R. TRABUCCO.

J42; gm 725 Aug. 8, 1950 v. R. TRABUCCO STROLLER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledMay 22, 1947 VINCENT R. TRABUCCO.

A g 1950 v. R. TRABUCCO 2,517,736

STROLLER Filed May 22, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1/11/1111 A 5:6 L E 64 T22Em VINCENT R. Tlznsucco.

JZ-EQQf Patented Aug. 8, 1950 STROLLER Vincent R. Trabucco, Steger,Ill., assignor to Steger Products Mfg. Corp., Steger, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application May 22, 1947, Serial N0. 749,842

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a combined stroller and walker, that is, avehicle to which handles may be conveniently attached and used as astroller in which a small child may be carried, or from which thehandles may be removed andthe child himself propels the vehicle as awalker or aid to walking.

The general object of the invention, therefore, is to provide aconvertible vehicle which may be propelled as a stroller or carriage,and is also adaptable for use indoors for propulsion by the childitself.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device having the twoforegoing advantages and also detachable equipment to facilitate the useof the device by the child as a chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wheeled vehicle havingrunning gear attached thereto in such a manner as to make the deviceespecially suitable for indoor use, yet not detracting from itsadaptability for sidewalk use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upona perusal of the following specification in which a preferred embodimentof the invention is shown and described.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the device assembled and ready for useas a sidewalk vehicle;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same device;

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal vertical section view of the deviceon the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of thehandle attaching mechanism;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line VI--VI of Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a detail showing the manner of mounting one of the rearwheels; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on a vertical plane passing throughthe line VIII-VIII of Figure 3.

The vehicle includes a seat member In which i may be made of anysuitable material but preferably is made of wood, and which has a narrowtongue ll extending forwardly therefrom and terminating in an enlargedfront end portion l2 as shown in Figure 2. A hollow front post generallyindicated as I3, is preferably fabricated from sheet steel and has itsside margins bent under the portion [2 and secured thereto by means of aplurality of bolts such as M. At the upper end of the post l3, a straplooped at I5 is secured to the post by a screw or rivet l6, and forms asupport and attaching means for a tubular frame member generallyidentified as IT. This tubular member is preferably fabricated of asingle strip of tubing bent in a U-shape in its upper plane to provideit with the legs l8 and [9, each of these legs being bent downwardly atits rear end to lie alongside of a pair of side plates 20 and 2| whichenclose the side margins of the seat member and extend rearwardlytherefrom to enclose a storage space at the rear of the seat. Therearwardly and downwardly curved portions 22 and 23 may be secured tothe side plates 2|] and 2| by means of a plurality of screws or rivetssuch as 24. While the side plates may be made of any appropriatematerial, I prefer to use Wood.

While other means might be employed for attaching the seat to the sideplates, I prefer to use a sheet metal wall 2-5 which forms a back forthe seat and to form therefrom a plurality of flanges such as 26 whichmay be bolted to the side plates by bolts or screws such as 21. Aplurality of screws such as 28 may then be employed to secure the seatmember to the back just above and upon the ledge 29, which is formedfrom an extension of the back. A further downward extension of this samesheet of metal, indicated as 30, terminates in an apron 3| whosefunction will be mentioned hereinafter.

Spot welded along a horizontal line at 32 to the apron 3| is anothermetal sheet 33 extending rearwardly therefrom, and which is likewiseprovided with flanges such as 34 which also are bolted to the sideplates 20 and 2!. A cover member 35 is hingedly connected to the member33 at a hinge line 36 to serve as an enclosure for the storage spaceformed at the rear of the seat back by means of the side plates, thebottom sheet 33 and the cover member 35.

When the vehicle is being used as a stroller, the storage space will befound extremely useful for a variety of purposes. The capacity of thisstorage space is large enough to make it very practical, especially ifthe, device be built in accordance the the proportions shown in thedrawing to have an overall length of approximately 24 inches, forexample. This size is not critical but is cited to indicate that thestorage compartment is not only ornamental, but could be decidedlyuseful.

As a simple means for latching the cover 35 in closed position, I preferto form a curved flange at the upper end of the seat as shown at 31 andto provide a cooperating metal flange 38 secured to the cover so that itmay have a snap action lit with the curved flange 31, andl provide 3 ahandle 39 by means of which the cover may be manipulated.

Arm rests 40 and 4|, suitabl shaped and curved for comfort, may besecured to the top edges of the side plates 20 and 2|.

The construction thus far described provides a rigid and very sturdymain body portion for the vehicle, since the seat member, the tubularmember generally indicated as ll, and the side plates, together with thehollow post i3, form a rigid structure.

Since the vehicle is intended for extensive use as a sidewalk stroller,a spring support for the body upon the rear wheels is especiallydesirable. To accomplish this, I provide a pair of brackets such as i2and 43 of identical construction, hence only one of them will here bedescribed, as illustrated in Figure 7. The vertical portion of thebracket is bolted to the inner side of the plate, such as the plate 2|,and has upper and lower flanges 44 and d5. A flat steel bar 46 extendsupwardly through a slot in the upper flange, and a cotter pin ll extendsthrough an aperture in the upper end of this bar just above the flange44. Between the lower flange and a washer 48, a spring '69 is held undercompression. A key 56 engaging a key-way in the axle and a suitable slotin leg 5| holds the axle against rotation. The lower end of the bar isbent into a U-shape to constitute the legs 5| and 52, which are providedwith apertures throng-h which the rigid axle 53 may be inserted. At eachend of the axle rod 53 the rear'wheels 53 are mounted, bearing memberswithin the wheels being provided to enable the wheels to rotate on,

the stationary axle independently of each other, and a cap 5*? may beprovided to enclose the outside of the wheel to give it a trimappearance. The bearing may be provided with antifriction elements, ormay be merely a sleeve 54" as shown, and is held against longitudinalmovement on the axle rod by means of a plurality of washers such as 55.

The construction thus described affords a sturdy connection of the rearwheel axle to the side plates, supporting the vehicle and its passengeron the rear axle through the resilient cushion formed by the springs 49.

The front wheels are attached to the vehicle as follows: A bolster 56,which may be a solid member, but which, as illustrated, is preferably achannel-shaped metal member, extends transversely of the front end ofthe vehicle to form the means for attachment of the front wheels. Thisbolster, however, is pivotally connected with the seat member asfollows: A metal bracket having upper horizontal portions 51 and 53 isbolted to the forward end of the seat member 12 by means of the bolts 59and Eli as shown, and

has a downwardly bent central portion 6| from which depends a pair offlanges 62 and 63 which embrace the bolster 56 and carry a pintle 64extending through the bolster, serving to hinged- 1y or pivotallyconnect the rigid seat member with the transverse bolster.

As shown in Figure 8, this bracket secured to the seat member also has apair of depending flanges 65 and 66 which in the normal position of thevehicle are equally spaced a short distance above the top surface of thebolster. Hence the bolster may rock a limited amount relatively to theseat member, as would be desirable due to inequalities in sidewalksurfaces, but cannot rotate any more than is permitted by the flanges 65and '66.

Near the opposite ends of the bolster caster constructions carrying thefront wheels 61 and 68 are attached to the bolster so that the devicemay be steered in an obvious manner.

When the device is used as a stroller, the feet of the child must besupported. Hence, I provide a detachable foot rest including the pan 69having a pair of hooks, one of which is shown in Figure 3, and numbered18, which may be inserted through suitable slots therefor provided inthe apron 3|,

.A pair of rods 7| and 12 extending forwardly from the foot rest ma alsobe inserted in the slots l3 and it provided in the bolster.

Not only may this device he used as a stroller or a walker, but it mayalso be used as a chair, and is equipped with a. removable traygenerally indicated at E5, which may be detachably positioned on thetubular frame by means of hooks l6, l1, l8 and 19.

When the device is used as a walker, the tray and foot rest may beremoved and the child may stand up, straddling the central tongue in theseat member, holding onto the tubular frame member, and may, of course,steer the device readily.

When the vehicle is used as a stroller, the foot rest is mounted on thevehicle and the handle is then attached. The handle comprises a U-shapedmember having a handle portion and a pair of arms 8| and 82, each ofwhich may be inserted through a bracket such as is shown particularly inFigures 4: and 5. These brackets are mounted in any appropriate manneron the outside surfaces of the side plates, the lower flange 83 carryinga conically shaped post 84 over which the lower end of the arm 82 may betelescoped while the arm also passes through the upper bracket 85 and isclamped therein by means of the swinging pivoted lock plate 86 which ispivoted on the bracket at ill and embraces the handle arm just above arivet 63 whose opposite ends protrude through the handle armsufficiently so that when the locking plate 86 is swung into lockingposition as shown in Figure 6, the rivet head would prevent the handlefrom being withdrawn from the bracket. A. slot 89 in the locking plateserves guide its pivotal movement in conjunction with a headed rivet 9|]which is secured to the upper flange 85.

It is apparent therefore, that the handle, while readily detachable fromthe vehicle, may be securely locked in place thereon without very mucheffort.

Conventional bumpers, consisting of rods which are rubber covered, maybe secured to the vehicle as indicated, these bumpers being identifiedin the drawings as 9|, 92, '93 and 94.

It is found that the construction herein shown and described produces avehicle at a reasonable cost, which is attractive in appearance yetextremely rugged. The front and back portions to which the wheels areconnected are rigidly connected at two levels, that is, by the seatmember and by the tubular member which is connected to the front postand to the outside surfaces of the side plates 20 and 2|. The wheels aremounted yieldably relatively to the rigid frame, hence the vehicle isadaptable for sidewalk use.

While I have shown and described herein in considerable detail apreferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that theinvention is not limited to the precise details as disclosed, but issubject tovariation and modification without departing from theprinciples of construction defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vehicle comprising a rigid seat member having a broadened seatportion at its rear end and a narrow tongue portion extending forwardlytherefrom, a front bolster extending laterally of the vehicle, a pair offront wheels swivelly connected to said bolster, means connecting saidbolster to the front of said seat member including a pivot pin extendinglongitudinally of the vehicle, bumper means for positively limiting therocking of the bolster relatively to the seat member, a pair of sideplates embracing the lateral margins of said broadened seat portionextending upwardly and downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, thin sheetmaterial secured to said side plates and said seat portion and shaped toform a back for the seat and forward and rear compartment walls andcooperating with said plates to form a storage compartment rearwardly ofthe seat and downwardly thereof, a pair of rear wheels yieldablyconnected with said side plates, a post comprising a pre-formed metalshell-like structure having U-shaped horizontal cross-sectionsthroughout its height and a horizontal base portion rigidly secured at aplurality of spaced intervals to the front end of said seat member andextending upwardly therefrom, and a rigid guard and frame member securedto the upper end of said post extending laterally and rearwardlytherefrom embracing the seating space and bent downwardly and forwardlyalongside of and secured to said side plates at intervals.

2. A combined stroller and walker comprising a rigid seat member havinga broad seat portion at its rear end and a narrow tongue portionextending forwardly therefrom, a front bolster extending laterally ofthe vehicle, a pair of front wheels swivelly connected to said bolster,means including a longitudinally extending pivot pin connecting saidbolster rockably to the front of said seat member, a pair of rigid sideplates embracing the lateral margins of said broadened seat portionextending upwardly and downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, thin sheetmaterial secured to said side plates and to the rear edge of said seatportion and shaped to form a back for the seat and forming with saidplates the forward, side and rear walls of a storage compartmentrearwardly of the seat and downwardly and underneath thereof, a commonrear axle and a pair of rear wheels thereon individually yieldablyconnected with said side plates, rigid post having a horizontalcross-section of channelshape and having a flattened base portionrigidly secured to the front end of said seat member at plurality ofpoints and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, and a hollowtubular rigid guard and frame member secured to the upper end of saidpost extending laterally and rearwardly therefrom embracing the seatingspace and bent downwardly and secured to said side plates near theirupper and lower margins, a door movably mounted at the rear of saidcompartment completing the enclosure of said compartment and affordingaccess thereto, a handle, and means for detachably securing the handleto the side plates of the vehicle.

VINCENT R. TRABUCCO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 147,135 Moran July 15, 19471,782,742 Perlmutter Nov. 25, 1930 1,876,111 Van Guelpen Sept. 6, 19321,987,385 Back Jan. 8, 1935 2,124,199 Lamb July 19, 1938 2,426,432Breckner et a1 Aug. 26, 1947 2,426,642 Remesch et a1. Sept. 2, 1947

